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Gloiopeltis fucatas red algae belonging to the family Endocladiaceae, have been traditionally consumed as medicines and food thickeners in China and Japan (Schachat and Glicksman, 1959). Various beneficial effects have been reported, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities (Niu et al., 2003; Bae and Choi, 2007). Mazzaella sp. belong to the family Gigartinaceae and are distributed in the north and west Pacific, around Pacific South America, Gough Island and off South Africa (Hommersand et al., 1993). They are well known as sources of carrageenan which is used as a food additive.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most harmful exogenous agents and affects numerous biological functions in all sun-exposed living organisms. Organisms are exposed to solar radiation, including harmful UV-B (280-320 nm) and UV-A (315-400 nm) radiation, in their natural habitats. Repetitive exposure to sun causes premature skin aging (Marrot and Meunier, 2008) and skin cancer (Afaq et al., 2005; de Gruijl and Ananthaswamy, 2010). In response to intense solar radiation, organisms have evolved certain mechanisms, such as avoidance, repair, and protection by synthesizing or accumulating photoprotective compounds, such as mycosporinelike amino acids (MAAs).

In the present study, we investigated the UV absorption power of Russian seaweeds and isolated UV-absorbing constituents from them.

Materials and Methods

- Samples

Five species of seaweed were collected at Sacchalin, Russia, from February to July 2011 (Table 1) by the TINRO-center, and stored frozen at -20℃.

- Extraction

The seaweeds samples were extracted in 10 volumes of 0%, 50%, and 100% aqueous ethanol a using sonicator. The extracts were evaporated using a rotary evaporator.

UV radiation is either reflected or absorbed by sunscreens. Different structural molecules have unique absorption wavelengths. An absorption spectrum will show a number of absorption bands that correspond to structural groups within the molecules.

In the present study, we examined the UV absorption properties of five Russian seaweeds within the range of 240 to 720 nm. Among the seaweeds, Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. had the highest absorption peaks between 280 and 360 nm, while the other species did not show any absorption peaks (Fig. 1). We also measured the UV absorption activities of 0%, 50% and 100% aqueous ethanol extracts of Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. to identify active UV-aborbing materials. Among these, 50% aqueous ethanol extracts from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. had high absorption peaks between 280 and 360 nm. These extracts were purified via column chromatography and two compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as shinorine and palythine through comparisons with spectral data and the literature

Ultraviolet spectrum of the compound 1 and 2 isolated from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp.

(Fig. 2) (Bandaranayake, 1998; Shick and Dunlap, 2002; Oyamada et al., 2008). This is the first time that these compounds have been isolated from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. Compound 1 and 2 showed maximum UV absorption peaks at 333 and 320 nm, respectively (Fig. 3).

Shinorine and palythine are MAAs. MAAs are colorless water-soluble secondary metabolites that have a cyclohexenone chromophore conjugated to a nitrogen substituent of either an amino acid or imino alcohol; they have been identified in fungal metabolites, cyanobacteria, red algae, and corals (Takano et al., 1978; Dunlap and Yamamoto, 1995; Bandaranayake, 1998; Shick and Dunlap, 2002). MAAs have high levels of absorption for UV-A and UV-B (280-400 nm) (Bandaranayake, 1998; Shick and Dunlap, 2002).

In conclusion, extracts from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. and MAAs derived from the extracts had strong UV absorption effects. Further study is needed to isolate and purify additional UV absorption materials from Gloiopeltis fucatas and Mazzaella sp. extracts.

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by a grant from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Korea (RP-2012- FS-031).